TFC, Santos level after first semifinal leg

Toronto FC Danny Koevermans and Mexico's Santos Laguna Santiago Hoyos fight to head a ball in front of the net during their semi-final CONCACF Champions League match in Toronto, Ontario, Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

Photograph by: Tyler Anderson
, National Post)

TORONTO — Maybe now, the stuff Toronto FC needs to propel its early, slumping season is contained in the welt above Ashtone Morgan's left eye.

The Canadian defender received his newest feature when Santos Laguna forward Darwin Quintero drove his forehead into Morgan's temple at the end of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal first leg Wednesday night. There was a second red card shown to the Mexican team, and then red and green and white striped jerseys crushed in front of Toronto's net.

There were no punches and no other discipline meted out, but after the 1-1 draw TFC midfielder Julian de Guzman said the late display of support and anger from his teammates spoke to something deeper, bubbling inside the team.

"When the whistle was blown the guys were there for each other," de Guzman said, "and that is very important."

Toronto needed something revealing. Heading into an admittedly historic event — TFC is the first Canadian team to make it so far in the continental competition — players spent more time defending shortcomings exposed in their last two Major League Soccer defeats than emphasizing the importance of the moment.

Wednesday night appeared more about a desperate survival than symbolism, so TFC decided to fight. A late first-half free kick goal from defender Miguel Aceval minimized the damage of Santos forward Herculez Gomez's away goal in the 31st minute, but Toronto attacked the top team in the Mexican league throughout, and 18,950 fans, starved for entertainment, jumped and cheered.

"If we play like this, like a team, then we will play very well," head coach Aron Winter said. "A draw is not a bad result, but we deserved move."

Since Mexican teams traditionally play hesitant when they travel to the cooler north — Santos players ran tentatively with gloves, torques, and neck-warmers during the warm-up — TFC assistant coach Bob de Klerk said Tuesday his team needed a clear advantage to take to Torreon for the second leg next Wednesday. Toronto often had four players forward in the first half.

But in one swift move, Santos exploited all the space inside Toronto's half.

The team had already flowed past Seattle in the second leg of the quarter-final, winning 6-1, and 7-3 on aggregate. Quintero chipped the ball down the right to Gomez, and the former MLS star ran quickly by Morgan and tucked the ball underneath TFC goalkeeper Milos Kocic.

Along with clever execution, de Klerk spoke earnestly about Toronto keeping "compact," but allowing the away goal just inspired Toronto to drive forward constantly. Five minutes after Gomez's goal, a needless foul at the top of Santos' box gave Toronto an advantageous spot, and Aceval thumped the ball behind Sanchez. Nevertheless, Koevermans will miss the second leg through suspension after receiving another yellow card for taking the initial free kick too early.

"The goal was unfortunate miscommunication at the back," de Guzman said. "But right after that we got our goal, and we kept putting pressure and we didn't stop."

In the second half, both teams bounced wildly from end to end.

In a blink, forward Ryan Johnson drifted a dangerous cross in the box that flew inches from Koevermans' forehead. Then forward Christian Suarez was denied a penalty kick after the referee dismissed an obvious shove from TFC defender Aaron Maund.

Sanchez then saved a low, tight-angle shot from Johnson. Then Gomez snuck again behind Toronto's defence and forced Kocic inside a quick save. And then Koevermans and midfielder Terry Dunfield each pulled the ball far from the posts.

The pace of the game finally ebbed when blood flowed in the 80th minute, after defender Osmar Mares sliced Eckersley's leg and received the game's first ejection.

Santos manager Benjamin Galindo was translated as saying American referee Ricard Salazar and his lineman were "absent" for most of the game. Galindo referred to Salazar as a "gringo," a Spanish word usually used to describe Americans or English speakers. The bulge above Morgan's eye, however, was evidence enough of Quintero's late guilt.

"He got me, he got a nice one," Morgan said.

It was hard to tell who was at fault for the angry gathering at the very end. Somewhere inside the melee Santos players warned of a "war" in next Wednesday's second leg.

"We already knew that," de Guzman said. "We're ready for it, we're looking forward to it. And the guys are prepared for it."

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Toronto FC Danny Koevermans and Mexico's Santos Laguna Santiago Hoyos fight to head a ball in front of the net during their semi-final CONCACF Champions League match in Toronto, Ontario, Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

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